Children’s Literature Festival calls for curriculum revamp

LAHORE : The present Pakistani school curriculum needs a revamp as, unfortunately, our books do not push our children to think. Our books should take a fun approach to learning and develop thinking skills in children.

This was stated by speakers and endorsed by the children and teachers at one of the sessions on the opening day of “Children’s Literature Festival”--CLF-2018 jointly organised by CLF and the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) at Lahore Fort on Saturday.

The two-day festival for children was inaugurated by Punjab Minister for School Education Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan while WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari, Trustee/Advisor for Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aaghahi (ITA) Baela Raza Jamil, members of the civil society, schoolchildren and people from different walks of life were present on the occasion.

Rana Mashhood said events like Children’s Literature Festival were vital for the promotion of education and overall personality development of children. He said that keeping in view its importance; the Punjab government was supporting the festival. He said the festival also helped highlight significance of Pakistani heritage sites among children.

The day-long event featured interesting sessions on storytelling, science, children literature in local languages, interactive theatre workshop, live mural and collage making, understanding heritage and a number of book stalls. Schoolchildren in groups and those accompanied by their parents thronged the venue and explored as much as they could.

Noted writers Rumana Husian, Amra Alam and Sindh School Education Department Curriculum Wing head Dr Fouzia Khan spoke at the session “Publications-CLF-Readings & Ideas for Children’s Literature.” Baela Raza Jamil moderated the session. Dr Fouzia Khan said, "Our curriculum does not develop thinking skills among the students which is unfortunate." The speakers were of the view the curriculum should develop thinking skills among the children in a fun manner so as to keep the interest of the children in books and education. The event also included book reading by the students while teachers also recited poems for children.

Talking to The News, visiting children Anaya Abdullah, Mikael Ahsan and Zayna said they were happy and particularly liked illustration workshop Harry Potter/Putter Booth. They said they had visited the Lahore Fort earlier too but attending the festival at this historical place was real fun.

In another session “Restoring the Walled City Lahore—a layered learning?” the speakers engaged the children in an interesting talk and quiz on heritage sites in Pakistan.

In the evening, a musical event featuring Ali Noor and young talent of CLF was held near the historical Hazuri Bagh outside Lahore Fort. The otherwise successful event missed some planned sessions like the one “Learning through Comics” scheduled to take place at Makatib Khana within the fort.

The colourful festival also attracted the routine visitors to Lahore Fort, who particularly explored different stalls, including food stalls, set up on the occasion. Posters and banners were also displayed on different points at the fort highlighting the heritage value of the Walled City of Lahore, including the Gates of Lahore.